It was Monday morning and I was getting to venture out for the day to try to lighten my spirits after an unfortunate trip to the ER the night prior. I heard a light knock on the door, and while I’m generally inclined to ignore unannounced visitors, I decided to answer on the off chance that the police officer from the night before needed more information.

When I opened the door, there was a strange woman standing on my doorstep with a white plastic trash bag filled with what looked like clothes. She immediately and without invitation began telling me her life story – how her significant other was a meth addict and abusive, how her child was taken away – the ramblings of someone obviously stressed. While I listened patiently, I knew she was surely a runaway from an abusive home looking for a helping hand.

I was right about one part.

She continued to ramble on about how her child had been given to her significant others family, which resulted in a restraining order against her. She explained she had to buy her child, Tracker, school clothes but the restraining order prevented her from giving them to him. She said she didn’t know anyone in the area other than church people, who, according to her, were unfit for the task of dropping the clothes off because of their large numbers of children.

Wanting to help, I obliged and took down her name, her son’s name, the location of the home at which to drop the clothes, and the guardian’s name. She continued carrying on about her other 4 children and their father and having to buy them school clothes. Of course, amidst the blabber, she did find a moment or two to thank me.

I took the white trash bag she’d been holding, and closed the door. As I walked back through my house, I got a sinking feeling in my gut.

Who in their right minds gets in the middle of a restraining order? And who even knows if this lady is in her right mind…she is just as likely to be on meth as anyone with all that rambling.

It wasn’t until a few minutes later that I completely regretted my decision to help. I heard another tap on the door, and was reluctant to answer it; I had enough crazy for one morning. By the time I mustered up the will to engage this woman again, I moved around the corner only to see her walk across the front of my apartment and look into the window well into the basement. Sinking feeling aside…I now felt worried!

I stepped back around the corner for fear she’d see me, and when I popped back around it, she was walking toward my door again. I answered it, reluctantly, but no one was there. I immediately locked all the door and windows, including the back patio gate. After all, what’s to say that she wasn’t out for something more than help violating a restraining order.

It’s been 3 days, and I decided I no longer wanted to be involved, so a trip to the police department was in order. I had no desire to get this woman, “Tamera like camera”, in trouble, but I also didn’t want to be third-party harassing these people. Alas…the police department couldn’t do anything, and I couldn’t just NOT do anything with the clothes, so onward I went to the Railroad Diagonal.

Tamera like camera had given me two different houses to visit, so I parked my car in between both. It appeared that one of the people I was directed to speak with was sitting outside, so I politely approached and addressed her. I’m not sure if she was deaf, blind in her good eye (the other one had a patch over it), ignoring me, on heavy medication, or all of the above, but all of my attempts to get her attention, which numbered several, were futile. I didn’t even get a glance from 8 feet away.

As it was starting to rain, I trotted across the way to the other home and knocked on the door, first lightly, then harder. No answer.

I set the bag down, which had been labeled, and got into my car and left. If they have any questions, the note I pinned on got ripped off and fell in one-eyed Patty’s yard. Maybe she should’ve answered me.

What is something you immediately regretted helping someone with? How did you resolve it?

First and foremost…thank you for your continued support. You may be a loyal reader, you may be a new reader, you might be supporting my Annie’s jewelry business, or Two Tails Behavior Consultation. All of those things mean so much to me, because without you and your support, I couldn’t do half of what I’ve been able to accomplish.

Second, I come to you with a request. Anytime you make efforts to grow, you’ll eventually outgrow where you were, and need to expand. I’m facing something similar. Kind of.

With Two Tails Behavior Consultation up and running, I need a reliable mode of transportation. My coverage area is extremely large and covers all of Colorado west of the Rockies. As many people do, I also commute for my a full-time job about 30 miles. Unfortunately, my car has entered the “unreliable” stage of its life, but alas, I have no money for a down payment and can’t afford a car payment otherwise. I’ve bounced around from used car to used car since I got my license, and they’ve done well enough, but it is time for something that gives me a little longer before I have to put major money into it.

Here is where you come in.

After going back and forth between if I should or shouldn’t, I’ve decided to begin a GoFundMe to see if I can garner the support to buy a new car so that hopefully, tomorrow, I’ll be in a better place than I am today.

Now I know that many of us are all in the same boat, so I understand if you can’t make a donation. But even if you can’t, I would be absolutely honored if you could share my “campaign” to your Facebook, Twitter, WordPress….anything.

Again, thank you so much for all of your continued support. It means so much to me!

Back just a few months ago, when everyone was making New Year’s Resolutions, I posted a blog called “High Hopes for the New Year“. So far, so good.

Here is the update of what I’ve collected so far. It doesn’t look (or feel) like much, but the goal isn’t to save the world. The goal is to inspire others, and to even help a little bit. Something, after all, is better than nothing.

The items I’ve collected, January – March:

Pads

Socks

Tampons

Razors

Instant Mashed Potatoes

Brown Gravy (2)

Lipton Noodle Soup

Hormel Compleats Smokey Bacon Parmesan Rigatoni

Motts Cinnamon Apple Sauce

Brown Rice

Canned Mandarin Oranges

Canned Cut Green Beans

Canned Sliced Peaches

Campbells Vegetable Soup

Chef Boyardee Beefaroni

That is 15 items, representing 15 trips to the store over 3 months. That is 5 trips per month to the grocery store. By the end of the year, that will equal 60 items.

I would still love to have someone join me! The rules are simple: 1) items have to be generally non-perishable, 2) you have to buy something each time you go to the grocery store, 3) items don’t need to be large or extravagent

I ask for your help quite a bit…whether its just passing a message along by sharing a post, or by giving me suggestions of things to do or read or try.

Now, I have something a little different to ask you.

I want your potholders.

Yes, potholders.

I’m trying to work on being better at up-cycling and reusing things, especially for other things. I know everyone has at least one or two potholders lying around that have seen better days.

So here’s what you do…you go out, buy a new set of potholders, then let me know you want to send me a potholder, and I’ll give you my address. Then you can send them to me, and I will be super excited.

The only requirements is that they can’t have holes or large, obvious stains and are of the square/rectangle variety (and cloth). I can dye them to cover up fading (yes, even if they are patterned).

Soooo…are you going to help me? And you Xangan folks out there…spread the word to other Xangans cause I know we are all pretty great about helping each other out when we want to.

Today, with 3/4 of my 40 minute drive home from work, I happened upon a couple of folks on the side of the road. They were at the mouth of the canyon that I now live in, just sticking their arms out with their thumbs up, looking for a ride.

I looked over at my front seat…piled with everything from wine shooters, to pants, to my purse and a 12-pack of soda. The back seat was no better, being piled so high the stuff was level with the back of the seats.

I kept going. There were two of them, after all, and at best I could only clear the front seat. Something inside of me wouldn’t let me keep going, though, so I turned around and doubled back. When I pulled over, I told them what had happened, and explained that I only had one seat. I cleared it, and they both hopped on in.

It was only a few minutes until we reached our destination, but it turns out, these people that were piled on top of one another in the front seat of my car didn’t even know each other! Her name was Laura. His name was Jared. And Jared was quite attractive…if only I’d had enough swagger to get his phone number. They were kayakers, and while I have no idea why they needed a ride, they were both quite thankful.

I’ve come to really enjoy helping people out like this. I don’t know what that feeling is inside that I get…maybe personal responsibility…but I’m glad I get it.

Have you ever given strangers rides or help? How’d it go for you? If you don’t, what would be the exception?

I feel like it’s time to revamp my blog. It’s been a good few years since I did such on Xanga, and when I created this one I stuck with the same basic theme.

My tagline, however, is from 2005. I was…15…

I’m having trouble deciding if I should keep my current format so that everything I do, everything I want to do, everything I think and say are kept in the same blog (like they are now), or if I should expand and begin dividing my attentions.

One blog, which shall remain nameless until I make my decision, would be my main stuff – life events, questions, thoughts, relationships, etc.

The other blog, which has yet to be named, would be a space for fashion, tutorials, sewing, DIY, food, pictures, and things of that nature.